“He will trust me when I tell him my reputation is as pristine as it was before I set foot in here.”
Even if she considered me a touch disagreeable, at least she believed me honorable. “Then let us hope it is he who finds us and not another member of your household.” I shivered at the thought.
She stiffened, holding the candelabra over her shoulder. “What do you mean to say, sir? Speak plainly.”
I chose my words with care. I did not fear a violent retaliation, but Miss Elizabeth had just proven herself adept at wielding a blunt instrument. Holding my hands in front of me where she could see them, I clarified, “Only that I would rather be found by your father than your mother.”
“And why is that,sir?” That last word she infused with so much disdain, I had to remind myself who I was—a gentleman born from an impeccable family. A Darcy.
Perhaps she needed to be reminded, too. “You cannot deny that your mother would love to have a reason to trap a gentleman like me for one of her daughters.”
“Because you are such a catch, sir?”
The ice between us thinned, but her purposeful misunderstanding of me set me on edge. “Can you deny it? Why else would she send your sister to Netherfield by horseback when it rained? It is because of mothers like yours that gentlemen like Bingley need friends like me.”
She scoffed. “To save poor, unsuspecting gentlemen from the dastardly matrons out to ensnare a husband for their unmarried daughters?”
“Yes.”
She lowered the candelabra from her shoulder, holding it between her hands. “My mother takes an interest in her daughters’ futures, as any loving mother should.”
Mrs. Bennet, loving? More like overreaching and manipulative!I was not so insensitive to give voice to my opinion, but neither did I believe that Miss Elizabeth believed her mother capable of such altruism. “By forcing a daughter to accept a gentleman’s hospitality when she falls ill? How can that lead to happiness?”
“It can when the daughter and gentleman are already inclined to prefer each other over anyone else!” Her eyes narrowed. “Or do you impute evil motives to Jane as well?”
“I do not believe she loves Bingley.”
“You know nothing of Jane’s heart!”
“And you do? Can you tell me honestly that she would encourage his affection without the coercion of your mother?”
“I am certain of it! If you cared to notice the view past your own nose, you would see how she blushes whenever he speaks, how she endures the condescension of his sisters so she might spend more time with him. You are so disinclined to like people that you would poison him against Jane when she is the kindest, most gracious woman he could ever be so fortunate to meet.”
Although I was not convinced, she spoke with such passion that I determined I would henceforth observe her sister more closely.
Unfortunately, Miss Elizabeth was not done expounding my transgressions. “Just like you have poisoned society against Mr. Wickham.”
That was a blow I had not expected. I took a step back and struggled to restrain the bitterness threatening to seize me. “You have already accused me of ignorance. Pray, inform me of Wickham’s complaints. I have heard so many; I wish to address those relevant to this conversation.”
The momentary confusion on her face was a small satisfaction. Still, she rose in his defense. “You denied him the living your father promised to him.”
“The living he gave up in exchange for a large sum of money?” Her gasp was reply enough. I continued, “Yes, he often leaves that part out of his tale of woe. There is a great deal about Wickham you do not know. If he were here?—“
“He did not come because of you.”
Her eagerness to see him, to defend a man undeserving of her good opinion, severed the last thread of my patience. “Oh, he came! I can summon at least two other witnesses to confirm that he was, indeed, here. He would have done everyone a favor not to trespass at all.”
“I suppose you chased him away?”
“Well done, Miss Elizabeth. That is precisely what I did.”
“You take pride in it?! You, sir, are nothing but a bully.”
That was precisely what Wickham would lead her to believe about me. I was hot and agitated and had no business speaking until I had regained my composure, but I wanted her to know how wrong she was. “Do you want to know why I am here in the library? I was searching for your father. I wished to warn him of Wickham.”
“He has been nothing but kind and attentive to our family.”
“Indeed, he certainly is attentive! Only minutes ago, I peeled him off Miss Lydia’s person and hauled him off the balcony to the garden where he slinked away.”
